Ben Smith at Politico has a good post today following up on the news last week that Obama’s Nowruz message to the Iranian people is one of the White House’s most popular YouTube videos. (Unfortunately for George Bush, we can’t count the clip of him serving as the target for a reporter’s loafers, which we found to be the second most popular video in the Arabic blogosphere , as an official White House video.) Smith quotes our own John Kelly who confirms the popularity of the online overture

For the second time this month, congressional budget analysts have dealt a blow to the Democrat’s health reform efforts, this time by saying a plan touted by the White House as crucial to paying for the bill would actually save almost no money over 10 years.  Full story in Politico here.

How arrogant is Nancy Pelosi? So arrogant that she doesn’t care if Americans can’t stand her . House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is one of the most despised political figures in the country. And, frankly, she doesn’t give a damn. “No, I don’t care,” Pelosi told POLITICO last Thursday, laughing heartily as she walked beneath the Capitol dome and plunged into a crowd of tourists. [...] Mention of the “trust” question halted the click-clack of Pelosi’s heels against Rotunda marble, and she turned to face the reporter who posed the question.

Inhofe Clarifies Claim That Birthers “Have A Point,” Blames White House – theplumline.whorunsgov.com 07/27/2009 As you’ve already seen, Senator Jim Inhofe made a big splash today by telling the Politico that the birthers “have a point,” adding that he doesn’t “discourage” their movement. But he’s now clarifying his claim, and blaming the White House for the persistence of birtherism. Inhofe now says that the birther point he was endorsing was specifically that the White House has not done a good enough job of rebutting the birthers’ charges.

Politico is reporting how the “birther” movement is causing trouble for Republicans in getting their message out . The denial of reality seems a powerful draw at both political extremes. Fantastically conspiratorial obsessions with the Bush administration led to the diagnosis of “Bush Derangement Syndrome” and have stunted political debate on a variety of foreign policy issues among many liberals for over 8 years now.

60 Seats, So What. Well, the Democrats have what the left has always wanted, a filibuster proof majority in the Senate, and a huge majority in the House. The left’s agenda should go through unchallenged, right? Well, not so fast. Read more

Appearing on Monday’s CBS Early Show, former Bush speech writer David Frum remarked on Sarah Palin’s political future following her resignation as governor of Alaska: “She’s a divisive force within the Republican Party …And many fear, as I do…that she represents a future that leads the party both to political defeat and then to ineffectiveness in government.” Co-host Harry Smith moderated a debate over Palin’s role in the party between Frum and author Ann Coulter.

100 residents from outside the city limits in Hixson gathered Friday to oppose the city’s plans for annexation . Matt Wilson : The crowd of mostly Hixson-area residents, who met inside the city limits but all live outside them, were vocal in questioning why Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield wanted to annex their neighborhoods into Chattanooga. “There is nothing this annexation is going to do for the people,” Mr. Bishop, a resident of the Stonewall Farms subdivision in Hixson, said.

Politico you can tell she doesn’t care. it’s all agenda driven and to hell with the American people. why would one of our representatives care what we think. not like thats their job or anything House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is one of the most despised political figures in the country. And, frankly, she doesn’t give a damn. “No, I don’t care,” Pelosi told POLITICO last Thursday, laughing heartily as she walked beneath the Capitol dome and plunged into a crowd of tourists.

Matt Rooney | July 27, 2009 President Obama has been caught in another lie, Save Jerseyans. Healthcare reform is going to cost Americans dearly whether or not the commander-in-chief will admit it. From Politico: “A key House chairman and moderate House Democrats on Tuesday agreed to a White House-backed proposal that would give an outside panel the power to make cuts to government -financed health care programs.